The way we do teaching and learning continues to evolve, as new technologies, flexible delivery, changing learner needs, and applied research shape the modern classroom. To support faculty in navigating this changing environment, the Centre for Teaching and Learning is introducing the FanshaweOnline Continuous Upgrade Standards (FOCUS), a practical framework for strengthening the consistency, effectiveness, and accessibility in courses delivered through FanshaweOnline (FOL).

FOCUS complements the college’s existing quality practices by offering a clear set of observable, course‑level standards, grounded in the evidence around teaching practices that impact student success. Whether the mode of delivery is face to face, online, or blended, FOCUS provides clear, objective criteria for criteria that can be observed on FOL. 

The standards are clustered within four tiers: one (Foundational Deployment) to guide quality in new courses, and three successive tiers (Essential, Elevated, and Exceptional Delivery) to inform the continuous improvement of existing courses.

FanshaweOnline Continuous Upgrade Standards, a tiered qualtiy system with four levels depicted as medals: foundational deployment, and essential, elevated, and exceptional delivery.

Foundational Deployment

For all new or revised courses, these standards ensure minimum required course elements are available to teaching faculty before the term begins. Broadly speaking, course developers will complete the following to achieve this standard:

  • Upload instructional materials and assessments and organize these into a coherent structure 
  • Edit essential course information templates which teaching faculty can modify
  • Apply baseline accessibility practices to ensure materials are usable from the start 

Essential Delivery

For faculty delivering an existing course (in any delivery mode), these standards ensure the course is current, personalized, and meets college policy minimums for delivery to students. In general, faculty would complete the following to achieve this standard:

  • Personalize welcome materials and keep communication (e.g., announcements) up to date 
  • Review and update dates, instructions, and content so they reflect the current term 
  • Ensure new materials meet basic accessibility expectations and remove outdated content

Elevated Delivery

For faculty strengthening the delivery of any course or for meeting an appropriate delivery quality for online courses with enhanced student engagement, instructional clarity, and usability. Overall, faculty would complete the following to achieve this standard:

  • Clearly communicate expectations for interaction, communication, and participation
  • Align activities and materials directly with learning outcomes to deepen engagement
  • Integrate purposeful learning activities and apply more consistent accessibility practices

Exceptional Delivery

Intended for fully online delivery (but otherwise applicable to any course), these considerations are necessary for a highly engaging, consistent, and effective online learning experience. Broadly speaking, faculty would complete the following to achieve this standard:

  • Build a strong instructor presence using personalized communication and multimedia
  • Provide clear alignment among outcomes, materials, activities, and assessments, with authentic and integrity‑supporting evaluation design
  • Ensure all text and media content is accessible and easy to navigate

The FOCUS tool is designed to support self-guided professional development at the course level, but can also be integrated within the processes of faculty performance review, program evaluation and renewal, and for reflective practice. 

The current set of standards for all three tiers of achievement are available for download here:

 

Fanshawe Centre for Teaching and Learning